Honorary PhD awarded to Alfredo Achar Tussie

The outstanding Mexican businessman and one of the country's greatest philanthropists received the highest recognition awarded by our Institution due to his commitment and dedication as an entrepreneurial leader and promoter of the country's social development and the fight against poverty.

On May 19, 2023, the ceremony for the Investiture of Mr. Alfredo Achar Tussie as an Honorary PhD took place at the North Campus of Anahuac Mexico University.
In front of a full Rectory Auditorium, one of the great philanthropists in the country was received by the Presidium formed by the highest university authorities: Alberto José Simán Dada, L.C., President of the Board of Directors; Dr. Cipriano Sánchez García, L.C., Rector; Dr. Sonia Barnetche Frías, General Secretary; Jorge Miguel Fabre Mendoza and Lorena Rosalba Martínez Verduzco, Academic Vice Rectors; and Alfredo Nava Govela, Director of the School of Economics and Business, who also delivered the keynote address and introduced the candidate.
Before the investiture, a video portrait was presented, in which Mr. Alfredo Achar Tussie shared the experiences and values he has always followed as a businessman, philanthropist and human being.

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Accompanied by family, friends, businessmen and women, the Rectoral Committee, directors of schools and faculties, students, researchers, administrators and representatives of the media, the renowned Mexican businessman, in accordance with the agreement of the honorable Board of Directors of the University and in recognition of his relevant merits, received from the hands of our Rector the PhD award as evidence of his intellectual merits; the laureate's cap as the crown of his studies and merits; the white gloves as a symbol of the purity that his hands must preserve and also as a sign of the distinction of his category, together with the Honorary PhD degree.
In his PhD message, Alfredo Achar Tussie thanked our Institution for the distinction and made it clear that business success is meaningless if it is not accompanied by social justice. "To be successful, a company must always seek to be profitable in order to contribute to the development of the community in which it operates and, at the same time, support the growth of the country through the creation of well-paid jobs that allow sustained growth," he said.
The prominent philanthropist listed the activities he has carried out over the years through the creation of institutions and social programs that have improved people's living conditions and motivated the creation of businesses and resources. Among the programs and foundations he mentioned were the Fundación ProEmpleo Productivo, which promotes the creation of small businesses; the Fundación Activa, dedicated to job creation and training of personnel; the Private Trust ProViváh, which builds low-income housing; the Fundación Camproduce, which seeks to link small rural businesses with urban demand centers; FONABEC, which supports young people of limited resources to continue their studies, among other actions that have benefited six million people.

He also stressed that education should provide the tools to face the challenges encountered in life. He reminded students that life is a journey full of opportunities and challenges and that on many occasions, in order to achieve their goals, they will have to think outside the box and step out of their comfort zone: "Do not give up in the face of obstacles, perseverance is the key to success. Learning never ends, there will always be something new to learn; always be open to new suggestions because education represents the greatest value in order to develop as individuals and is the key to professional and personal growth," he added.
Finally, he called on them to not forget to be empathetic and compassionate with others when they achieve success in their careers and to find ways to contribute positively to their community and country so that "they will be people who will leave a positive and true impact, because success is not about money and fame, but about finding happiness."
During his message, our Rector, Dr. Cipriano Sánchez, L.C., reiterated that Dr. Achar Tussie became a central figure of social responsibility in Mexico and Latin America, whose commitment and dedication as an entrepreneurial leader, promoter of the country's social development and his fight against poverty have earned him countless awards and recognitions.
After thanking the Ambassador of Israel in Mexico, Zvi Itzhak Tal, and the President of the Central Committee of the Jewish Community of Mexico, Elías Achar Levy, our Rector recalled that for the Anahuac University to award an Honorary Doctorate is a serious moment, because it represents the commitment of the full value of academia, the search for truth and good, as well as university work, to highlight someone who deserves, for his life, his actions and his contributions to society, all that a PhD implies: "getting a little closer to the truth that makes human beings better."

He also highlighted the work of Alfredo Achar, which over time has been integrated with virtue, commitment, solidarity and human vision: "This is a trajectory worthy of a PhD, because he has been able to design in what he carries out the value of the human and the dignity of the person next to us, of the vision of solidarity, of the wealth that one has generated, of the commitment that can not only have something more, but above all be something more".
Likewise, he pointed out the work that Achar Tussie has carried out in promoting innovation and progress in business: "You have promoted ethical and socially responsible business practices and have thus become an inspiration to others thanks to your commitment to the welfare of others. You have contributed to combating poverty and social problems in our country by setting up organizations focused on doing good, on helping those in need, on supporting with scholarships young people starting their academic journey and all this encouraged by a heart in which family and friends are a driving force to continue doing good for society".
The solemn act of investiture closed with the reading of the Anahuac Promise, which inspires us to overcome evil with good, after which our Rector declared the session closed.